A “friendly family man” has avoided jail after he launched a “vicious and unprovoked” attack in a pub after hearing someone making fun of his dead father.

Robert Macey, 27, flew into an “absolute rage”, punching and kicking his victim in the Old Sun pub in Eaton Socon after he had tried to break up another scuffle Macey was involved in. Macey, of Cornwallis Drive in Eaton Socon, had been fighting after a pub-goer made a “snide” remark about his father, who had died in 2013.

Macey admitted assault and affray, but was handed a suspended sentence when he appeared at Cambridge Crown Court today (July 3).

The court heard how, on April 23, Macey was in the Old Sun pub. At 1am, the court heard Macey got involved in a scuffle after someone told him he was “an idiot, like his father".

Mitigating, Claire Matthews said this remark “lit the touch paper” for Macey, whose father had died in 2013 after the pair had reconciled following a period of estrangement.

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Prosecuting, Marti Blair told the court people, including the victim, tried to break up the fighters. Macey appeared to have calmed down but then became enraged with one of the people who broke up the fight, asking him if he knew his father.

Miss Blair said: “The victim then felt a smash on the back of his head, he said it felt like a glass rather than a fist. CCTV suggests, though, that it was a fist. He subjected his victim to a volley of blows which knocked him to the floor. He was punched and there was at least one kick.

Macey appeared at Cambridge Crown Court

“According to a member of staff, the defendant was in an absolute rage. He said it was the most vicious attack he had ever seen. He was concerned about his safety and that of others there. It was described as completely unprovoked.”

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In mitigation, Miss Matthews said Macey had struggled to come to terms with the death of his father and that he had begun to use drink as a crutch. Following the attack, she said Macey was appalled by his own behaviour and had begun to see a bereavement councillor in order to “confront his demons”.

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Miss Matthews said family and friends painted a picture of Macey as a “kind, friendly family man” who wanted to give back to society. She said this behaviour was completely out of character and that Macey was taking steps to address his problems.

Macey was handed a 12-month prison sentence, which was suspended for 24 months. He was also ordered to complete 20 days off rehabilitation activities and pay £500 compensation to his victim.